Mount Gozaisho and Gozaisho Ropeway

Hubby and I visited Mount Gozaisho on 13th October. Mount Gozaisho is located on the border of Higashi Omi in Shiga prefecture and Komono in Mie prefecture. This mountain is the center of Suzuka Quasi National Park, and is the highest mountain in the park. Gozaisho Ropeway connects the top of the mountain to Yunoyama Hot Spring at the base area. Mount Gozaisho is well known for fall colors which begin at the summit in mid-October, and travel down the mountain to the hot spring area at the base over a period of one month. Fall leaves with a blended combination of red, yellow, and green progress gradually over time from the summit to the base of the mountain. We visited the mountain to ride on Gozaisho Ropeway and enjoy the fall colors.

On reaching the base of Mount Gozaisho (400 meters elevation), where Yunoyama Hot Spring is located, we saw the station of Gozaisho Ropeway. We bought tickets for the ropeway and entered a gondola. As we rode the gondola, we saw breathtaking panoramic views all around us. Along the way, we saw unusual rock formations beneath us. We also saw several mountains all around the area. We thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent views and beautiful landscapes. The base and mid mountain regions of Gozaisho were still green and autumn colors had not yet set in. The photo below is of me sitting inside a gondola of Gozaisho Ropeway and enjoying the views.

We enjoyed greenery all around us from the gondola.

Beautiful view as seen from the gondola

A gondola returning to the starting station

We saw Mount Kamagatake adjoining to the south of Mount Gozaisho.

Hubby felt a bit sick as the gondola moved crazily due to the high speed of wind during our ropeway ride.

After about 15 minutes of riding on the ropeway, we reached Summit Park Station. This station is located around the summit area of Mount Gozaisho at an elevation of 1200 meters. At the station we visited a ropeway museum detailing the history of Gozaisho Ropeway. After exiting the station we took a stroll on a paved pathway at the Summit Park and visited several of the five lookout platforms and observatories. It was wonderful to see the outstanding scenes of nature all around us. The stunning views and vistas were so enjoyable. The photo below is a view from one of the lookout platforms.

Next we walked up to Chouyoudai Observatory which is the nearest observatory from the Summit Park Station. It commands a view towards the east of Mount Gozaisho of Suzuka Mountain Range overlooking a wide landscape including Ise Bay. It is an excellent spot for photos. The photo below is of me at Chouyoudai Observatory.

View from Chouyoudai Observatory with wonderful autumn colors

Another view from Chouyoudai Observatory

We strolled up to another lookout area at the Summit Park, where hubby and I took a commemorative photo of us together at a spot where wooden logs were arranged in the form of Mount Gozaisho. We also enjoyed viewing the autumn foliage at this lookout area.

The overlooking landscape, the mountains, and the nature viewed from the above mentioned lookout area at the Summit Park were stunning.

Yet another view from the same lookout area

Next, we walked up to Asahidai lookout spot located just a two-minute walk from Chouyoudai Observatory. Asahidai lookout spot commands a view towards the west of Suzuka Mountain Range. The photo below is the summit of Mount Gozaisho as viewed from Asahidai lookout spot at the Summit Park.

Hubby posing at Asahidai lookout spot

After enjoying the views and sceneries at the Summit Park area, we visited the summit of Mount Gozaisho. We took a sightseeing lift that connects the exit of the ropeway and the summit of the mountain. Although it is possible to walk up to the summit, the lift is a convenient access to the summit. The photo below was taken by hubby of me riding the lift on our way to the summit of Mount Gozaisho.

We had a comfortable lift ride and enjoyed the views around us.

On reaching the summit of Mount Gozaisho, we saw autumn foliage all around us. Here I am standing at the summit enjoying the views and posing.

At the summit, we saw a sign that marks the highest elevation point of 1212 meters of Mount Gozaisho, and the triangulation marker that represents the first-order triangulation point. Here I am sitting next to the sign.

Hubby is standing next to another sign indicating the highest elevation of 1212 meters at the summit of Mount Gozaisho.

The summit is on the border of Mie and Shiga prefectures. I am standing in Mie prefecture in the photo below.

We experienced magnificent views from the summit of Mount Gozaisho.

The photo below is of Ontake Daigongen Shrine as viewed from the summit of Mount Gozaisho. An ascetic monk named Kakujun established this shrine in 1884 and the present building was constructed in 1964. We wanted to walk up to the shrine but I was a bit tired, so we saw it from afar.

Beautiful landscape as viewed from the summit of Mount Gozaisho.

This is the Summit Park as viewed from the summit of Mount Gozaisho.

After enjoying the views at the summit of Mount Gozaisho, we took the sightseeing lift back to the Summit Park. Here I am enjoying the ride on the lift.

Afterwards we took Gozaisho Ropeway from the Summit Park Station and returned to the base of the mountain. We enjoyed our trip to Mount Gozaisho and the ride on the ropeway.

Mishima Skywalk and Mount Fuji

Hubby and I visited Mishima Skywalk in Mishima city of Shizuoka prefecture on November 11, 2020. Mishima Skywalk is a suspension bridge with a scenic view from where we can see Mount Fuji in the far background. The bridge has a total length of 400 meters and is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan.

We visited Mishima Skywalk by our car. On our way, as we neared the Skywalk Bridge, we got a wonderful view of Mount Fuji from Tomei Expressway.

On reaching Mishima Skywalk Bridge, we bought entrance tickets worth 1100 Yen per person to enter the suspension bridge area. There we took an obligatory picture of us together in front of the bridge.

I took a photo of Kazuo standing in front of Mishima Skywalk. It started getting rather cloudy that time and was rather windy.

Unfortunately when we started walking on the bridge, Mount Fuji was shrouded by clouds though we could still see the base of the mountain (arrow mark). So while we got a wonderful view of the Skywalk suspension bridge, we could not see Mount Fuji from the bridge.

Mishima Skywalk suspension bridge itself is a beauty to behold. However it was a bit scary to walk along the bridge with it swaying crazily. The views from the bridge were fantastic.

Walking on such a wobbly bridge was a nice experience though. This is yet another view of the fantastic bridge taken from another angle.

While strolling along the bridge, we enjoyed looking at Suruga Bay far in the background and the beautiful Mishima town below. Suruga Bay is the deepest bay in Japan.

We also saw beautiful nature all around us from the suspension bridge. I guess the bridge is a perfect place to conquer our fear of heights because there is a 70.6 meter drop to the forest below at the deepest point.

After the wobbly walk along the suspension bridge, we took a break on the other side and again returned to the initial point. We loved the views all around the suspension bridge. The photo below shows the resting point on the other side of the bridge.

We were disappointed that we could not see Mount Fuji from the Skywalk Bridge. However on our way back home, after just about 20 minutes of drive, we saw that the clouds surrounding the mountain had cleared. So we took a break at Fujikawa Service Area of Tomei Expressway and enjoyed the beautiful view of the Majestic Mountain. This photo is of me standing at Fujikawa Service Area.

The photo below shows Mount Fuji, Fuji River, and Tomei Expressway. The frequency of the commercial power supply in Japan is 50 Hz to the east of Fuji River (right side of the photo) and 60 Hz to the west (left side).

Mount Fuji and clouds

Mount Fuji and I at Fujikawa Service Area

Mount Fuji and hubby

I am having an additional late lunch at a restaurant in the Service Area along with Mount Fuji in the background.

I am enjoying coffee. We were at Fujikawa Service Area for about an hour. We loved chatting while seeing Mount Fuji.

Again after driving for quite some time, we reached Yui Parking Area where Tomei Expressway is at the nearest point to Pacific Ocean. We got beautiful views of the ocean and faint Mount Fuji in the background.

And no sightseeing of ours is complete without taking a photo of Kazuo’s love. I mean his car. Here I am standing next to his car.

We had a great day out at Mishima Skywalk as well as at Fujikawa Service Area of Tomei Expressway and enjoyed viewing the Majestic Mount Fuji.

Toyokawa Inari Temple

On 24th September, hubby and I visited Toyokawa Inari Temple. It is a Buddhist temple of Soto Zen sect and is located in Toyokawa city of Aichi prefecture. The formal name of the temple is Enpukuzan Toyokawa-kaku Myogonji. The temple is sprawled over an area of 127300 square meters and was founded in 1441 by a Buddhist priest named Tokai Gieki. His distant predecessor Kangan Giin studied Tantric Buddhism in China in the 13th century. According to him Juichimen Kannon is an avatar of a female deity named Toyokawa Dakinishinten. On a rough sea-trip home from China, Kangan Giin had a vision of Dakinishinten riding atop a white fox while carrying a sheaf of rice and a wish-fulfilling jewel. After he settled down in Japan, he himself carved a beautiful image of the deity, which is now housed in the main hall of the temple. People pray to the deity for good business, for having many children and other worldly benefits. The temple was patronized in the Sengoku period as well as Edo period by great warriors like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.

At a cursory glance it seems like the temple has elements of both Buddhism and Shinto religions. Although many structures in the temple premises like Torii Gates, statues of Kitsune fox, and the deity itself with an image of goddess (Inari Okami) riding a messenger white fox are generally associated with Shinto religion, it is purely a Buddhist temple with no overt association with Shinto. The similarity was most likely created during the period of religious syncretism in the initial period of Meiji Restoration, and the line between Buddhism and Shinto was blurred that time.

It is very interesting to note that Goddess Dakini is known as a wrathful form of Goddess Kaali in Tantric Hinduism in India. It is very likely that Goddess Dakini was incorporated into Japanese Buddhism and evolved into Dakinishinten. In modern folk belief, the image of fox is thought to be a substitute for the Indian jackal usually associated with Kaali.

We entered Toyokawa Inari Temple through a majestic gate named Somon. After the founding of the temple, Somon Gate was first renovated after 214 years in 1656. The present gate was reconstructed in 1884 in Irimoya-zukuri (hip and gable roof) style. It is a four pillared gate with a gable. The gate has double doors made from a single plate of zelkova wood that is believed to be from a tree that is more than 1000 years old. The doors are 4.5 meters high, 1.8 meters in width, and 15 centimeters thick. The gate has copper roofing and has hand-carved metal fittings at various places. Somon is an ornate wonderful gate.

                

On entering the temple premises, we saw a stone Torii Gate to our left. Two statues of Kitsune foxes on either side of the gate looked amazing. The foxes are made of copper and stand on stone pedestals. The Torii gate and the foxes are considered to be the typical identifying elements of Shinto religion. This clearly shows that the line between Buddhism and Shinto was blurred during the Meiji Restoration period.

After appreciating the statues of Kitsune foxes, hubby clicked a photo of me standing with one of the Kitsune foxes.

From the Torii Gate area, we saw several elements and structures of Buddhism to our right side. So next we went to see those Buddhist structures in details.

First we saw a belfry (Shoro-do), which is a Buddhist structure. In commemoration of the completion of reconstruction of the temple main hall, the belfry was donated by Hamamatsu city in 1945. It is made of zelkova wood. The bell (Bonsho) hanging from the belfry was cast during the end of World War II as a memorial for the war dead and for praying for world peace and the welfare of humankind.

Next, we saw another interesting gate named Sanmon, which is a Buddhist structure. It was built in 1536 with donations from Imagawa Yoshimoto, and was constructed in Kawarabuki-zukuri (semi cylindrical tiled roof) style. It was repaired in 1792 and again a major repair was carried out in 1954. It is the oldest extant building inside the temple premises.

The statues of Nio located on either sides of Sanmon Gate were donated by devotees in 1966. Nio are two wrathful and muscular guardians of Buddha and the temple premises. The Nio statue with open mouth is called Agyo and is a symbol of overt violence. The statue with closed mouth is called Ungyo and symbolizes latent strength. Conceived as a pair, the two statues of Nio complement each other. Below is the statue of closed mouthed Ungyo.

Statue of open mouthed Agyo.

Next, I washed by hands and mouth at Semizu-sha to purify my mind and body to enter the prayer area of the temple.

After seeing some of the Buddhist elements inside the temple premises, we started walking along a paved approach and saw a second stone Torii Gate which is a representative of Shinto religion. Hubby clicked a photo of me standing in front of the Torii Gate.

The second stone Torii Gate.

After walking past the second Torii Gate, we turned around and saw the beautiful paved approach with the two stone Torii Gates, several temple buildings, and the beautiful blue sky. It was a wonderful sight.

We walked along the paved approach for about 50 meters, and reached in front of Honden Main Hall. It is a reconstructed Buddhist structure. Reconstruction of the building began in 1908 and was completed in 1945. It is made of zelkova wood, and has double roofs of Irimoya-zukuri (hip and gable roof) and Tsumairi-zukuri (main entrance of the building on the gabled side) styles. In addition, there are three entrances to the worship hall. The building is 30.6 meters high, 19.35 meters wide, and has a depth of 38.59 meters. It has a total of 72 round pillars of two dimensions (24 and 90 centimeters in diameters). I love knowing about the details and architecture of buildings. The beautiful statue of Toyokawa Dakinishinten carved by the priest Kangan Giin is enshrined inside the main hall.

Hubby is standing in front of Honden Main Hall.

I am standing in front of the Main Hall.

We saw two statues of Kitsune foxes on either side of the paved approach near the entrance of Honden Main Hall. The foxes are made of copper and stand on stone pedestals. They are considered to be the guardians of Buddha and the temple. Hubby clicked a photo of me standing with one of the statues of the foxes.

Hubby is standing with the other statue of Kitsune fox.

We also saw two huge copper lanterns on either side of the paved approach near the entrance of Honden Main Hall. The lantern to the left was a bit rusted.

The copper lantern to our right side was not much rusted and that made me wonder whether the two lanterns were made at different times.

Just in front of the Main Hall of the temple we saw a large cauldron of incense, smoke from which is believed to bestow good health. We lit a bunch of incense sticks to the already fuming stock and with our hands wafted the incense fumes over our bodies.

While climbing the steps to Honden Main Hall, we saw a huge and amazing red paper lantern hanging from the ceiling of the hall.

On the veranda of the Main Hall, we saw two gorgeous copper lanterns on either side of the hall. Below is one of the lanterns.

The other copper lantern kept on the veranda of the Main Hall.

Finally we reached the altar area of the Main Hall. I offered some coins into an offertory box located in front of the altar and prayed for good health and peace for everyone.

We left Honden Main Hall and saw a beautiful garden nearby with a stone pagoda. It was very pleasant and peaceful scenery.

Hubby posed in front of the garden wearing a mask. I guess that is going to be the new normal henceforth.

There were many more buildings and interesting structures inside the temple premises but we decided to visit those some other day. We had a nice time visiting the temple.